Apparatus for sterilizing a medical unit

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out a method for sterilizing a medical unit comprising at least two connections for a fluid flow pathway where a sterilizing medium flows through the unit. 
     Medical units of this type are e.g. medical filters, in particular dialyzers. A high degree of sterility is here required. This is accomplished through the steps of: 
     (a) inserting the unit into a system under pressure-tight coupling of the two connections to a feed conduit and discharge conduit of the system under atmospheric conditions; 
     (b) passing the sterilizing medium from the system through the unit for a give period; 
     (c) closing the two connections in the coupled state and in a germproof manner, without the same being opened, on completion of the sterilization operation; and 
     (d) removing said unit from said system as a sterile unit with closed connections. 
     All steps, including the removal of the unit, are therefore carried out in a system where the sterility obtained is constantly maintained. This &#34;inline sterilization&#34; guarantees a high degree of sterility of the medical units treated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for sterilizing a medical unit comprising at least two connections for a fluid flow pathway where a sterilizing medium flows through the assembly.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method with a means used for producing and/or providing the sterilizing medium in the system.

Medical units of this type, such as medical filters, in particular blood treating filters which are inserted into the extracorporeal circuit (e.g. dialyzers) must always be as sterile as possible. The same applies to units which are used for applying sterile medicaments.

It is known in practice that medical units of this type are sterilized in sequential steps to make them ready for delivery. The individual steps are carried out separately in different rooms or systems, so that there are unsterile intermediate steps between the individual steps, resulting in a possible loss of sterility.

In the method known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,866 (corresponding to German DE 30 12 110 Al), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, an artificial kidney is first filled up with a fluid which is not harmful to the human body. The connections of the kidney are then closed. The artificial kidney which is already accommodated in a packing container is subsequently introduced into an autoclave and sterilized in steam at an elevated temperature and under high pressure.

Considerable typical disadvantages of the known kind of method are:

Expensive, expandable special closures or expansion chambers are necessary for compensating for the increase in volume during sterilization in the autoclave;

the closures may nevertheless tear;

not every type of artificial kidney can be sterilized in accordance with the known method;

since the sterilizing operation is carried out with a "quasi-stagnant liquid" in the artificial kidney, non-sterile pockets may be formed with heat bridges in dead corners.

The method which has become known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,469 (European Patent Application EP 0 198 100 Al), herein incorporated by reference, goes one step further. In this method an artificial human organ, such as an artificial kidney, is continuously sterilized in an autoclave, namely from the inside with water heated to a sterile temperature and from the outside with superheated steam. The organ is subsequently cooled by a correspondingly cool sterile water, which inwardly flows through the organ, whereby the sterile condition is maintained.

The present invention starts from this known method in which the sterilization operation is carried out continuously.

A considerable disadvantage of the known method and the associated apparatus is that the sterile state might be abandoned when the artificial organ is removed from the autoclave for closing and packaging the same.

OBJECT UNDERLYING THE INVENTION

It is the object of this invention to develop the above-mentioned method and apparatus such that unsterile intermediate steps are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is attained with the method of the invention by the following steps:

(a) Inserting the unit into a system under pressure-tight coupling of the two connections to a feed conduit and discharge conduit of the system under atmospheric conditions;

(b) passing the sterilizing medium from the system through the unit for a given period;

(c) germproof closing of the two connections in the coupled state, without the same being opened, after completion of the sterilization operation; and

(d) removing the unit from the system as a sterile unit with closed connections.

This object of the invention is attained with the apparatus by:

at least one fastening means which is subjected to atmospheric pressure and used for the temporary pressure-tight coupling of the unit connections and comprises an inlet and an outlet;

at least one conduit from the sterilizing medium means to the inlet of the fastening means;

at least one conduit which is connected to the outlet of the fastening means;

closing members, in particular shut-off valves, in the conduits;

closing of the connections of the unit in the coupled state.

Hence, in the method and apparatus of the invention sterilization is performed "inline", i.e. all treatment steps are carried out in the same system in which the treating means also flow through. This avoids any unsterile intermediate steps and ensures that patients obtain medical units which are aseptically closed with the highest possible degree of safety.

Suitable sterilizing media are conventional media, such as pressurized water or water vapor of at least 105° C., depending on the compatibility with the respective medical unit. A peracetic acid solution may advantageously be used as a sterilizing medium for hydrophobic units.

A flushing step prior to and/or after the sterilizing step is necessary with specific medical units in conjunction with the sterilizing medium to be used. Water which must be sterile itself in a flushing step after sterilization is preferably used as the flushing fluid.

In a closed system with pressurized water or superheated steam as the sterilizing medium, the flushing water may be derived from the sterilizing medium. For instance, the water which is not yet heated to high temperatures serves as the flushing fluid prior to the sterilization step, and cooled pressurized water or condensed water vapor is used as the flushing fluid after sterilization.

Depending on the medical unit used, it may be expedient to leave the unit filled with sterile fluid when it is closed, or to interpose a drying step with sterile gas, such as air, which is heated to at least 100° C. if necessary.

Hence, there are various possibilities of combination which depend on the respective medical unit.

With hydrophilic units, such as cuprophane dialyzers, the method is performed in the following way: The flushing operation is carried out with hot water. The hot water is subsequently heated to a sterile temperature under pressure and the sterilization step is then carried out as a heat sterilization with this pressurized, circulating water. The circulating pressurized water is subsequently cooled to room temperature and the medical unit is then closed under sterile conditions.

With a hydrophobic unit, such as a polysulphone membrane filter, the method is advantageously performed such that the flushing operation is carried out with hot water, the sterilization step is then carried out with water vapor as the heat sterilization medium and the medical unit is subsequently closed under sterile conditions. After heat sterilization the unit is expediently postflushed with sterile water and subsequently dried.

As an alternative to this method using pressurized water, the flushing operation is performed with hot water, the sterilization step is then carried out with circulating peracetic acid at room temperature, the medical unit is then flushed with sterile water and subsequently closed under sterile conditions.

The apparatus offers corresponding possibilities of combination.

The present invention shall now be explained in greater detail with reference to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings and relate to the dialyzers as medical units. Variations and modifications of the invention will also become apparent therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a sterilization system for dialyzers with pressurized water as the sterilizing medium.

FIG. 2 shows the control panel of a program control for controlling the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 1, with alternatively adjustable tanks for different sterilizing media.

FIG. 3a shows a section of the system in FIG. 1 with a container for sterile air for drying the dialyzers.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a sterilization system for dialyzers with water vapor as the sterilizing medium.

The sterilization system shown in FIG. 1 serves to sterilize regenerated cuprophane dialyzers by means of pressurized water at a temperature of preferably 121° C.

Dialyzers 2 (preferably 10 pieces) which are to be sterilized and respectively positioned on a special steel sheet, which has been subjected to grinding, are each inserted into a respective fastening means 1, which holds the dialyzer in place, and firmly connected to the flushing connections of the fastening means with their open closure ends at the blood and dialysate sides. A connection technique as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,374 issued May 14, 1991 (corresponding to German patent application P 38 25 573), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, is preferably employed.

Distilled water having a temperature of 123° C. is held ready in a container 3. Container 3 comprises a valve 4 for feeding distilled water and a valve 5 for venting the container. The container is under increased pressure, so that the water cannot boil at the predetermined temperature.

The hot pressurized water is withdrawn from the container by means of a circulating pump 6. A partial flow I passes through a filter element 7 having a filter pore size 10 μm and a first circuit valve 8 through dialyzers 2 to be sterilized and another circuit valve 9 back into container 3. Another partial flow II is constantly passed through a heat exchanger 10 back into the container and serves to keep the container temperature constant.

Another valve 11 which is connected to an outlet is provided downstream of the dialyzer fastening means.

Filter element 7 and fastening means 1 for the dialyzers have arranged thereinbetween a cooler 12 with upstream and downstream valves 13, 14, in the bypass to the circuit. At the cooling side, cooler 12 is provided with valves 15, 16 for the inlet and outlet of cooling water (town or tap water) and with valves 17, 18 used for aerating and venting.

The sterilization process is carried out in a plurality of steps.

1. Insertion of the dialyzers:

All closing caps of dialyzers 2 are so turned that entire locking and sealing are ensured. The closing caps -- two caps for the blood side and two caps for the dialysate side for each dialyzer -- include an O ring and an inserted plug (according to U.S. application Ser. No. 07/386,284, incorporated by reference (German DE 38 28 373 Al)).

The dialyzers are then inserted into the receiving device of fastening means 1 comprising sealing cylinders for the dialyzer caps.

2. Flushing:

After dialyzers 2 have been inserted into the fastening means, valves 5, 11, 13, 14 are opened. The other valves are closed. Dialyzers 2 and cooler 12 are flushed with hot pressurized water of about 98° C. for a specific time interval (about 4 minutes), with the flushing water being directly passed into the outlet and thus removed from the entire circuit. In the flushing phase the temperature continually increases due to heating by means of heat exchanger 10 in tank bypass II.

3. Sterilization:

On completion of the flushing operation, after which valves 13 and 14 remain open while valves 8 and 9 are additionally opened, the pressurized water is heated to a sterilization temperature of about 123° C. The heating phase is designed such that after its end (i.e. approximately 10 minutes) at least a temperature of 121° C. is indicated at all measuring points. The hot pressurized water is continuously circulated by means of circulating pump 6 via filter element 7 and dialyzers 2 back into container 3. The sterilization operation, 5 including the heating step, lasts 30 minutes. It must be ensured that at least a temperature of 121° C. prevails at all measuring points during the entire duration of the sterilization phase.

4. Cooling:

After sterilization the pressurized water is cooled to room temperature by switching on the previously sterilized cooler 12 via valves 15 and 16. Circuit valve 8 is closed at the same time. The pressurized water is here conveyed in cooled form through the dialyzers which are thereby also cooled to room temperature. The postcooling temperature in the blood port of the dialyzer is somewhat lower than that in the dialysate part (25° compared with 20°).

5. Closing and Removal:

After cooling, the dialyzer is automatically closed by pneumatically driving the plug into the closing caps and is removed from fastening means 1 by releasing and retracting the holding cylinders. The cooled sterile water remains in the sterile dialyzer.

The sterilizing system can be controlled manually or automatically by alternatively switching on a mode switch. During manual operation the valves are individually controllable. During automatic operation, the valves are time- and temperature-controlled by a program control. Such program controls which successively control individual process steps in time-and sensor-controlled fashion are known to those skilled in the art. The associated control panel is expediently designed in accordance with FIG. 2 and contains the following display and control elements which are respectively marked with a letter in FIG. 2 and connected to the associated sensors or control parts.

A: digital displays for temperature

B: digital display for container temperature

C: level display

D: change-over switch, temperature display for blood and dialysate

F: recorder for pressure and temperature

G: control lamps for pumps

H: controller for heating temperature

I: change-over switch, manual-zero automatic for pneumatic valves

L: switch for backing pump

M: switch for pump

N: key "start"

O: key "stop"

P: "emergency switch"

Q: program indicator lamps

R: main switch

S: key "fastening"

T: key "closing"

U: key "removal"

During automatic operation the sterilization system is therefore operated and adjusted as follows:

The dialysis filters, e.q. 10 pieces, are inserted into ten fastening means and connected to the system by pressing key S marked "fastening". The automatic sequence is started by pressing key N "start". The individual program steps -- flushing, sterilizing, cooling, closing and removal -- are successively and automatically carried out in program-controlled fashion according to the set time.

The individual program steps are indicated by indicator lamps Q during the running of the program. The temperatures of all dialyzers are indicated by digital displays A -- by means of change-over switch D alternatively at the blood and dialysate sides -- and recorded on recorder F for documentation purposes. The program is terminated when the lamp "end" lights up. After keys T "closing" and U "removal" from the fastening means.

After new dialyzers have been inserted into the fastening means, the process can be started again.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 depicting cuprophane dialyzers, hot and distilled pressurized water of at least 121° C. is used as the sterilizing medium. Instead of pressurized water, a 3% peracetic acid may also be used at room temperature as the sterilizing medium. In this case the dialyzers must be flushed with sterile water after the sterilization operation to free them from the sterilizing medium.

From the technical point of view it may be expedient -- as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3 -- to provide containers 3, 19 for two sterilizing media which can be supplied alternatively via associated valves 20, 21. Tank 3 containing hot water may here serve as a source of sterile water for flushing the dialyzer after its sterilization so as to free it from peracetic acid supplied from container 19. After flushing with sterile water, dialyzers 2 may be dried by feeding sterile air from a container 22. The air can be supplied into the system via valve 23, shown in FIG. 3a. Alternatively, the sterile water remains in the dialyzer according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Furthermore, the sterilizing medium may be water vapor which is supplied from a vapor source 24 in accordance with the schematic representation without valves, as shown in FIG. 4. This sterilizing medium is preferably used in the case of dialyzers 2 having polysulphone membranes. As is generally known, polysulphone is hydrophobic and contains PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) as the hydrophilizing agent.

By analogy with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, dialyzer 2 is first flushed with water supplied from a corresponding source, e.g. the condensate of vapor source 24, via conduit 25. Heat sterilization is subsequently carried out with water vapor via conduit 26. The water vapor is subsequently supplied to a condenser 27. After sterilization dialyzer 2 is postflushed with sterile water, e.g. from the condensate of vapor source 24, to remove the dissolved PVP. Dialyzer 2 is subsequently dried with sterile air which is supplied by a suitable source and fed into the system, e.g. according to FIG. 3a.

The technical implementation of the above-mentioned steps and the provision of the necessary control can be carried out by those skilled in the art on the basis of the given steps and in accordance with the described embodiment according to FIG. 1 without any inventive efforts being required. For instance, the cooling phase is dispensed with when peracetic acid is used as the sterilizing medium for treatment at room temperature according to FIG. 3. In such a case, a corresponding cooler 12 either does not exist or is not switched on in the system. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for sterilizing a medical unit comprising at least two connections for a fluid flow pathway where a sterilizing medium flows through said unit comprising:(a) means for generating and/or providing a sterilizing medium in said apparatus; (b) at least one fastening means which is subjected to a pressure and holds a medical unit in place, is used for the temporary pressure-tight coupling of at least two medical unit connections, and comprises an inlet and an outlet; (c) at least one conduit from said sterilizing medium generating and/or providing means connected to the inlet of said at least one fastening means; (d) at least one conduit connected to the outlet of said at least one fastening means; (e) a closing member in each of said conduits; and (f) at least one means for the germproof closing of said at least two medical unit connections in the temporary pressure-tight coupled state.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduits are connected to form a closed system defining a circuit.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one container is arranged in said closed system for containing a sterilizing medium.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a steam generator is provided for generating said sterilizing medium.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a heat exchanger is arranged in said closed system.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduit leading to said inlet of said at least one fastening means has provided therein a branch which communicates with an assembly for generating and/or providing an additional sterilizing medium.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said assembly is provided for generating and/or providing sterile fluids.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said assembly is an assembly for generating and/or providing sterile water.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said assembly is an assembly for generating and/or providing sterile gas.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said assembly is an assembly for generating and/or providing sterile air.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a program control means is provided for automatically controlling program steps comprising flushing, sterilizing, cooling, closing, and removal of said medical unit.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:(g) said sterilizing medium generating and/or providing means comprises a pressure container for containing distilled water and said apparatus further comprises: (h) a conduit system for connecting said container to said at least one fastening means in said apparatus; (i) a circulating pump, shut-off valves and a microporous filter upstream of said at least one fastening means in said circuit; (j) a cooler in a bypass, which is able to be shut off by valves, connected to the circuit between the upstream end of said at least one fastening means and said microporous filter; (k) an outlet conduit which is adapted to be closed by means of a valve and provided at the downstream end of said at least one fastening means; and (l) a heat exchanger arranged after said circulating pump in a bypass, connected to said pressure container, for controlling the temperature of said container.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a container which is alternatively connectable instead of said pressure container via valves into said circuit is additionally provided and contains peracetic acid as said sterilizing medium.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said closing members in said conduits comprise shut-off valves. 